Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has expressed strong resentment
over the alleged sexual assault of a woman by 2 US servicemen in Okinawa
Prefecture, saying the incident is utterly senseless.

Nakaima made the comment in a meeting with Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto in Tokyo on Wednesday.

He urged the minister to strongly demand that the United States
cooperate with investigations of the incident and step up discipline
among its servicemen.

Morimoto replied that he is also extremely angry about the incident. He
said the government is gravely concerned, adding that such inhumane
action cannot be tolerated.

Morimoto said he believes the US military has failed to take appropriate
measures to prevent such incidents. He told Nakaima that he will ask
the United States to take concrete steps to strengthen discipline.

Morimoto said the government will also urge the US to move swiftly to
convene a meeting of the Japan-US joint committee of foreign and defense
officials to discuss the incident and how to prevent a recurrence.Oct. 17, 2012